Signal lamp



March 17, 1931. L, 3 BRACH 1,796,917

' SIGNAL LAMP Filed March 8, 1928 INVENTOH LEO/V 5. BRACH By A o w. 231% ATTOR/VE Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEON S. BEACH, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE RAILROAD SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SIGNAL LAMP Application filed March 8, 1928. Serial No. 260,217.

This invention relates to a signal lamp particularly adapted for use in connection with railway crossing gates, or any other place where a signal light is moved with an arm or guarding member and through the operation of said gate or arm, the lamp is so moved as to cause it to automatically light when the gate or arm is in a guarding position.

It frequently happens that the crossing gates or the like are remote from an electric lighting circuit and hence the gate-signal lamp has to be lighted by energy derived from a battery, and in order to prolong the life of the battery or its charge, it is desirable that the lamp be not lighted except when the gate approaches its guarding position which is usually a horizontal one. It is therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide a signal lamp which may be readily attached to a railway crossing gate or some other movable member, and which will when the gate or member is in a guarding position, automatically light, and will be automatically extinguished when the gate or movable member carrying the lamp is in its nonguarding position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lamp in which the bulb support and switching mechanism is a unitary structure that may be quickly adjusted for focusing the bulb in the reflector portion of the lamp and also easily removed from the lamp for the purpose of replacing the bulb or for any other reason.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of switching mechanism for controlling the circuit which is small, light in weight and which can be readily mounted within the lamp casing and requiring no additional wiring separate from the unitary structure.

I With these objects in mind, my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the lamp, showing the lamp bulb with socket and associated parts in side elevation. Figure 2 is a view of the lamp socket and switching mechanism with the bulb removed. Figure'S is a View of the backside of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the switch control device in its open position or at right angles to that shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 shows a modified form of adjusting means. Figure 6 is a section on line 66, Figure 5.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views:

1 is a frame or shell within which a reflector 2 is mounted. Attached to shell 1 by any suitable means as screws 3, is a rim 4. Fastened to the rim 4, is a visor 5, preferably arcuate in form, to shield the lamp from the direct rays of the sun and to center the light coming from the lamp so that the same is more noticeable. The shell 1 also carries the usual glass or lens 6 which is held in position between suitable gaskets 7. Preferably integral with the shell 1, is a nipple 8 which is adapted to receive a threaded end 9 of a support member which carries the bracket 10 used for fastening the'lamp to the crossing gate or other movable arm or member. An adjusting means 11 is provided for setting the 1bracket 10 at the desired angle with the mem'- er J.

The reflector 2 preferably has a reinforced inner rim 12 in the form of a ring, and this rmg is adapted to receive the'socket portion 13 of the unitary structure carrying the bulb 14 and other parts. The portion 13 is preferably of strong insulating material within the interior portion of which is carried a metal socket 15 for the bulb 14. A central contact 16 is resiliently mounted to engage the central contact of the bulb 14. Preferably integral with the portion 18, is a flange 17 of a strong insulating material. The flange as shown in Figure lcarries two adjusting screws 18 and 19 on opposite sides of the socket portion 13, and as shown in Figure 1, these adjusting screws 18 and 19 are adapted to engage the ring 12 so as to move the unitary structure'and the bulb 14 to the proper focal point of the reflector 2.

After this position has been obtained, the screws 18 and 19 are locked in position in a satisfactory manner as by lock nuts 20, and likewise the socket 13 is locked within the ring by means of a set screw 21 positioned in the ring 12. Access to the screw 21 is obtained by means of a pipe plug 22 positioned in the shell 1 directly over the screw 21. To completely enclose the unitary struction comprising the bulb socket and switching parts, a cover 23 is fastened at therear part of the casing 1 as by a suitable number of screws 24.

Mounted on the flange 17, is a switching device for controlling the circuit through the bulb 14:. This mechanism comprises a mercury switch having a tube 24, preferably of glass, to the ends of which are fastened terminal caps 25 and 26. The glass tube 2 1 is held to the flange 17' by means of a clamp 27 having a stud on which a lock washer lock nuts 28 are used to draw the clamp 27 securely againstthe flange 17 in the position shown in Figure 2.

Sealed within the tube 24lare two contacts 29 and 30' which are connected to the terminal caps 25 and. 26 respectively. The terminals 29 and 30 are spaced somewhat as indicated in Figure 4, in which position the mercury 31 does not close a circuit between these contacts; but when the lamp is turned to an angle of ninety degrees or to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mercury 31 completes the circuit between tie contacts 29 and 30 and a. circuit is then completed to the bulb 14, it being understood that a so of electric current is connected to the terminal posts 32 and 33, The wires connected to these terminals are brought through the casing 1, at some point such as 34 positioned adjacent flange 17, in any satisfactory manner by a suitable bushing which is not shown in the sectional view.

The cap 26 is connected to a terminal 35 which in turn is connected to one portion of the lamp bulb socket such as the socket 15.

It will be observed that the switching de vice for controlling the circuit through the bulb and its socket, com-prises a single unitary structure which on removal of the cover 23, is readilymade accessible and which may be quickly adjusted for focusing the bulb or replaced if need be by an entirely new unit which is built up as a complete device ready to go into the lamp. It will also be clear from what has been said that the switching mechanism and lamp bulb mounting consolidated as they are into a single, compact structure, is much lighter, simpler, and cheaper than the mechanical gravity switches heretofore proposed for this class of work. While I have shown a preferred form of construction, it is obvious that various dei tails entering into the general construction of the lampmay be varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention and the scope of the appended claims: for example, in order to avoid the use of the pipe plug 22 and set screw 21, Ican do away with both by using the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, wherein the reflector 2 has a hub 36, on which is mounted by means of screws 39, a spring 37, having its end formed to engage a ball 38 on the end of adjusting screw 19. The ball 3 lies in a recess in the socket nounting 13 and also in a slot in the hub 36, and the surface of the ball 38 abuts against the metal forming the rear part of the slot in the hub 36, so that turning the screw 19, will carry the lamp socket mounting laterally back and forth with respect to the reflector, thereby adjusting the bulb 14: at the proper focal point. A dowel pin 40 in the hub 36 and a slot i1 in the mounting 13 be utilized to assist in positioning the socket mounting.

Since for any given size and style of bulb the filaments are very accurately located, it is not necessary to refocus the bulb every time one of the same type is exchanged. Therefore, after once. setting the bulb in proper focal position, another may be quickly replaced by merely pulling out the socket mounting from the spring lock formed by the spring 37 engaging the ball 38, the co operation of which parts provide a very handy means for attaching the socket mounting to the reflector. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a signal lamp including a casing having a rearwardly extending portion, a reflector and lens carried by the casing; a unitary structure housed within the rearwardly extending portion of the casing and supported on the rearward portion of the reflector,

said unitary structure comprising; a lamp socket and mounting therefor, a gravity actuated switch for controlling the circuit through a bulb mounted in said socket and means for adjusting the whole unitary structure to properly position the bulb in the reflector.

2. In a signal lamp including a casing having a rearwardly extending portion, a reflector and lens carried by the casing; a unitary structure housed within the rearwardly extending portion of the casing and supported on the rearward portion of the reflector, said unitary structure comprising; a lamp socket and mounting therefor, a flange associated with said socket mounting, a tube of insulating material carrying a quantity of fluid having at least fair electrical conductivity and mounted on said flange, contacts carried within said tube and normally electrically separated but adapted to be electrically connected by said fluid when the lamp is moved to signal position and means for adjusting the whole unitary structure to properly position in the reflector a bulb adapted to be carried in said socket.

3. In a signal lamp including a casing having a rearwardly extending portion, a reflector and lens carried by the casing; a unitary structure housed within the rearwardly extending portion of the casing and supported on the rearward portion of the reflector, said unitary structure comprising; a lamp socket and mounting therefor, a flange of insulating material associated with said socket mounting and having circuit terminals thereon, a gravity operated switch mounted on said flange, said switch comprising a tube of insulating material having metal caps connected with interior contacts disposed so as to be normally electrically separated, a quantity of mercury within said tube and adapted to connect said contacts when the lamp and tube are turned through an angle and means for adjusting the whole unitary structure to properly position in the reflector a bulb adapted to be carried in said socket.

4. In a signal lamp for the purpose described including a casing having a rearwardly extending compartment, a support, a lens, a visor, and a reflector having a ring around the focal end of the reflector which projects into said compartment; a unitary structure positioned in said compartment and carried by said ring, said unitary structure comprising a lamp socket and mounting therefor, a gravity operated switch and means cooperating between said structure and said ring to adjust the unitary structure with respect to the reflector for the purpose of focusing a bulb adapted to be placed in said socket and a cover for said compartment for completely enclosing said unitary structure.

5. In a signal lamp for the purpose described including a casing having a rearwardly extending compartment, a support, a lens, and a reflector having a ring around the focal end of the reflector which projects into said compartment; a unitary structure positioned in said compartment, said unitary structure comprising; a one-piece lamp socket mounting and flange, a gravity operated switch mounted on said flange, said switch being in the form of a glass tube having interior contacts adapted to be electrically connected by mercury within the tube; means for adjusting the unitary structure with respect to the reflector for the purpose of focusing a bulb adapted to be placed in said socket and a cover for said compartment for completely enclosing said unitary structure.

6. In a signal lamp for the purposes described including a casing having a support therefor, a lens and a reflector, a unitary structure carried in a part of the casing adjacent the focal end of the reflector, said unitary structure comprising; a bulb mounting having a flange and a switch for controlling a circuit through a bulb adapted to be mounted in said mounting, said switch being operated by turning the lamp to signal position,

means for adjusting the position of said structure for focusing the bulb in the reflector and a cover normally closing an opening in the casing for obtaining access to said unitary structure. v

7. In a signal lamp for the purposesdescribed including a casing having a reflector portion carrying a lens, and a compartment extending rearwardly from the reflectorportion; support means for the lamp attached to the wall of said compartment and a cover for closing the compartment, a combined lamp socket and switch mounting positioned within the compartment and removable therefrom through the opening uncovered by removal of said cover, said switch being operated to close a circuit through a bulb mounted in said socket by swinging the lamp to signal position, and means for adjusting the entire combination mounting with respect to the reflector part of the casing for the purpose described.

8. In a signal lamp for the purposes described including a casing having a reflector portion carrying a lens, and a compartment extending rearwardly from the reflector portion; support means for the lamp attached to the wall of said compartment and a cover for closing the compartment, a unitary structure positioned within the compartment and removable therefrom through the opening uncovered by removal of said cover, said structure comprising a lamp socket adapted to carry a bulb and a switch adapted to. control a circuit through the lamp bulb when the lamp is turned substantially ninety degrees in a plane at right angles to its horizontal axis as shown.

9. In a signal lamp for the purposes described including a casing having a reflector portion and glass closure therefor, a lamp socket mounting carried within a part of the casing, a switch carried by said mounting, and actuated by the position of the mounting as determined by movement of the entire lamp and means for adjusting the position of the mounting for focusing a bulb normally carried by the socket without interfering with the switch parts.

10. In a signal lamp for the purposes described including a casing having a reflector portion and glass closure therefor, a unitary structure carried Within a part of the casing, said unitary structure comprising; a circular portion having a lamp socket positioned therein, and a flanged portion carrying circuit terminals for the lamp, a switch for controlling a circuit through the lamp bulb normally carried by the socket, said switch being actuated by the position of the unitary structure as determined by the movement of the lamp as a whole and means for adjusting the position of the unitary structure within the casing for the purposes described.

11. In a signal lamp for the purposes described including a casing having a front closure capable of passing light rays therethrough, a reflector having a hub adjacent its focal end, a lamp socket mounting carried by said hub, a gravity operated switch carried by a part of said socket mounting, and means for adjusting the lamp socket mounting to focus a bulb held in the socket, said means comprising a screw having a ball on its inner end carried by the mounting and a spring on the hub having an end to fit said ball.

12. In a signal lamp for the-purposes described including a casing having a front closure capable of passing light rays therethrough, a reflector having a hub adjacent its focal end, a lamp socket mounting car ried by said hub, a gravity operated switch carried by a part of said socket mounting, and means for quickly positioning said socket mounting in association with the hub whereby the bulb adapted to be carried by said socket is immediately brought into focal position, said means comprising a spring on the hub cooperating with a member on the socket mounting.

13. In a signal lamp for the purposes described including a casing having a front closure capable of passing light rays there through, a reflector having a hub adjacent its focal end, a lamp socket structure spring locked on said hub whereby the structure may be quickly put into place, a gravity operated switch controlling the circuit through the socket bulb and carried by said socket structure and means carried by said structure and cooperating with said lock spring for adjusting the position of the bulb in the reflector.

14. In a signal lamp for the purposes described including a casing having a front closure capable of passing light rays therethrough, and a reflector, a lamp socket mounting positioned within the casing so a lamp bulb carried by the socket will be at the focal point of the reflector, a switch carried by said socket mounting, said switch controlling the circuit through said bulb and being operated by movement of the entire lamp when the same is moved to and from signal position.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

LEON S. BEACH. 

